2009 Honda Fit

March 2009. Few cars have racked up as many top picks and unanimous acclaim as the redesigned 2009 Honda Fit subcompact five-door hatchback. Despite its small dimensions, auto writers are impressed by the Honda Fit's interior room and versatile cargo area. Rear seats fold flat at the pull of a single lever to open up 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Ten cup holders and several storage compartments are thoughtfully placed throughout the cabin. Reviewers say the seats on the Honda Fit are high for a comfortable seating position with fairly good outward visibility. Some wished for height adjustment and longer front-seat cushions, however. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, front-seat active head restraints and ABS, but electronic stability control is optional only on Honda Fit Sport models packaged with the navigation system, which automatically adds $1,850 to the sticker price compared to the regular Honda Fit Sport. The new Honda Fit is named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The sole powerplant available on the 2009 Honda Fit is a 117-horsepower, 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine -- a bit more powerful than last year's Fit. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a five-speed automatic is optional -- an advantage over most small cars' four-speed automatic transmissions. While so many economy cars are criticized for being boring to drive, the Honda Fit manages to entertain reviewers, who say the nicely balanced car handles well, with responsive steering and an eager engine. That's not to say it has an excess of power; many auto writers mention its tepid acceleration, especially with the automatic transmission. On the other hand, the Honda Fit's smooth-running four-cylinder is very efficient, with EPA ratings of 27-28 mpg city and 33-35 mpg highway. Test drivers report real-world mileage on target with the EPA estimates. Some of the negatives mentioned in Honda Fit reviews include a ride that can be harsh over rough roads and too much intrusive road and engine noise inside the passenger cabin.
Reviews say that the Honda Fit is not as affordable as many of its competitors, such as the roomier 2009 Nissan Versa (*Est. $9,990 to $16,330) or more powerful 2009 Scion xD (*Est. $14,650). But the Fit is the best car of the bunch, critics say, and holds its value better than most rivals.
Because the Honda Fit is redesigned for 2009, reviews are abundant. Consumer Reports conducts a comparison test of several economy cars, and the Fit finishes first. While the entire report is only available to subscribers, a publicly distributed press release reveals the results. Edmunds.com has a well-written comparison test between the Honda Fit and the Honda Civic Hybrid, with interesting results. One of the best road-test evaluations is from Cars.com, which also links to seven reviews from newspaper auto writers. Thorough road-test write-ups can be found at Motor Trend and Car and Driver, both of which named the Honda Fit among their top 10 cars of the year. Automobile Magazine gives several editors' opinions and insights. USA Today's automotive critic gives his evaluation in a well-balanced critique.